Random Acts of Kindness, Spread the Disney Magic!

[Musicalmommy]

Has anyone ever thought about doing random acts of Kindness while at Disney?

I am trying to think of a way to make my kids realize that this trip is not only about them, but also about others and how they interact with those around them.

Just curious if anyone has thought of fun and interesting ways to perform random acts of kindness while at Disney.

The really cool one I thought of I am not sure will work.

I thought it would be fun to buy small polished sea shells and hide them on the beach at Castaway Cay when we are there for other kids and families to find.. I thought it would be fun for the kids to paint a small hidden mickey on them with black paint pen, and maybe hide a note inside them, but I am worried about breaking some law about introducing foregin shells into the ecosystem. Not sure the customs rules on shells. Anyone???

We also painted Star Wars Rocks, see my avatar, or the crafty post here to check them out.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3040036

We plan to hand them to cast members, or random people around the park. Maybe even hide a few among some landscaping for people to find.

Any other ideas for Random Acts of Kindness to perform at Disney. It seems like Disney gives us so much magic that we can help pass some of that onto others too.

I would love to see some other ideas you may have.

 

[thedonduck]

I don't know about your ideas as far as legality, but I just want to share some of the things we have done. My kids are super little, but I don't think it is ever too early to start having them learn to share/spread love!

- brought glow in the dark necklaces and passed to kids around us at the parade
- we usually let one kid who is behaving/not whining to sit in front of us for the parade (if we watch we usually stake a spot early and get a snack, so we have "extra" room
- hand out fast passes when we aren't going use them
- paid for the person behind us snack (at the cash only places)
- paid for a round at YeeHaw Bob

We are locals and obviously don't this all every time we go, but try to be aware of how we can help others have a great trip!

 

[Missy13d69]

We have been trying to plan some little things. So far, we bought a huge box of glow necklaces that we plan on taking with us. We will take a few each night for our kids, and extras for other kids. We plan on paying for a balloon at random balloon vendors and telling them to just randomly pick a kid to give it to. My brother wants to buy some random table a "Kitchen Sink" when we go to Beaches and Cream. That may prove to be super entertaining. I love the Star Wars rocks. That's super cute!

 

[lawnmd]

We were there in October. I bought a bunch of glow necklaces and glow sticks that would allow you to wear around your neck. Well we bought my son a Micky mouse battery operated glow in the dark pumpkin necklace our first night there. So he wasn't interested in the glow necklaces and glow sticks I brought. So each night I packed them in my backpack. And when me my wife or 5 year son thought some one wanted one. We would pull one out and ask. Most everyone was very appreciative. But one guy who was sitting at a table with one child said no disrespect to to. But I can't take one. I apologized to him for asking. He said we have 4 kids and if they all don't get one then we have a war on our hands. I said all I have is three left. My son then said. Give them our three and give them mommies. so I told guy i would be right back. We I got back the guy had all four kids with him. So I then asked him if I could give him the four necklaces. All the kids starting screaming. Please daddy. So we gave them the four necklaces. It made me and my sons day.

 

[Pesky]

I'm planning on bringing some rolls of stickers of Disney characters, the ones that tear off like in a doctor's office, and letting the kids hand them out.

 

[saremmons]

We would buy a 6 pack of the small goofy twisty suckers and give my DD one. She would then give the rest to other kids around the parks.

 

[StitchFanZ]

On one trip to DL we would get some food and then sit on a bench with a good view for the parade. As the crowd would grow and it would get close to time, my kids would look for a tired person or older person and then offer to share the bench.
Give away a fast pass to a random stranger - that always gets a smile.

 

[tikistitch]

One of my favorite ways to share the magic is to print off about 100-200 little business card sized thank you slips. I put Disney clip art on them and something like "Thanks for making our trip more magical!" and put the first names of my family on them. I usually reserve them for Cast Members who go above and beyond in creating magic for us, and when my nephew gives a cm one of those cards, it really makes them feel AMAZING. I also give the cards to guests that we spy doing nice things for others, like scooting down benches, or allowing someone to jump in front of them in line, or giving up their table at a busy dining time. Just small things that might frustrate others, it always makes them grin and look awestruck that someone took the time to thank them and give them a little gesture.

 

[sillylily]

My girls got Mickey balloons at one of the parades last year. On our last morning, we took the balloons down to the Pop food court and gave them to a little boy and little girl who had just arrived. The look on their faces was totally worth surrending those balloons.

 

[mimmi]

Have CMs usually pockets in their uniforms that big enough to carry those things? That's maybe soemthing you should consider, if they get stuff from more than one guest, it could be troublesome for them carrying it for their entire shift.

As for Castaway Cay, the whole island, as nice as it is, has an artificial feel to me so I doubt you could do any real damage with imported shells.

 

[LexiC123]

I'm sorry, but I find the idea of handing a CM a rock - painted or otherwise - to be borderline insulting.

What's wrong with a great big smile, a heartfelt "Thank You!" and a comment card filled out at Guest Services?

 

[mdsoccermom]

I find the most magical moments are the spontaneous ones, not the manufactured ones.

And rocks? Really? What is a CM supposed to do with a rock?

 

[topolino]

"I got some candy!"

"I got some popcorn!'

"I got cookies!"

"I got a rock."

Sorry, it was the first thing that came to mind.

 

[Kaspar Houser]

I find the most magical moments are the spontaneous ones, not the manufactured ones.

And rocks? Really? What is a CM supposed to do with a rock?

I will ask my friend who is a CM. We do not give anything to CM because it all ends up in the trash bin. Who of us would accept candy or random stuff from a stranger?
The best way to show you re appreciation for a CM is mail to Disney. Notice the name and tell Disney this CM made youre day magical.
We do make one exception. We take our freind CM to Victoria & Albert's and pay for his meal.
Now that is an idea. For those that like to reward or please a CM take him to dinner and pay for it.

 

[Iforgetmypassword]

I think the best way to practice random acts of kindness is to use the manners you (hopefully) were raised with. Hold a door open for someone whose hands are full, give away a fastpass, give away a pin, let someone have your seat.

I think the idea of giving rocks to employees is hilarious!! I'd love to see what they do with it, after the giver walks away. Probably toss it out, I'm sure. If you want to give them something, why not cash? Oh wait-because it's cash, right? We keep that!!

 

[LuvLDM]

I think the best way to practice random acts of kindness is to use the manners you (hopefully) were raised with. Hold a door open for someone whose hands are full, give away a fastpass, give away a pin, let someone have your seat.

I think the idea of giving rocks to employees is hilarious!! I'd love to see what they do with it, after the giver walks away. Probably toss it out, I'm sure. If you want to give them something, why not cash? Oh wait-because it's cash, right? We keep that!!

I agree. I find this trend of giving gifts to CM's rather odd. Just be polite, treat Cm's & other guests with respect and consideration.

 

[SueM in MN]

I agree. I find this trend of giving gifts to CM's rather odd. Just be polite, treat Cm's & other guests with respect and consideration.

In previous threads like this, CMs have posted that they do not have places to carry things given to them. So, if it is of value, they have to report it as a tip. If it is not of value, they would throw it away.

 

[tigger51276]

After the first couple of trips to WDW and spending $15-16 for the light up things (that was 10 years ago) and only having DD play with it a couple times and then they would end up at the bottom of her toy box, I stopped buying them and starting hitting the dollar sotre and buying a bunch of glow bracelts and necklaces and like many others on this thread we will break open a whole pack and my DD's put them all on and as we walk around they will look for kids who don't have any light up stuff and ask them if they'd like one. It's great to see the smile that instantly comes their faces and my kids love doing it, in fact they look forward to doing it. We also tend to get TONS of the mickey stickers that cast members hand out, way too many for just the 2 of them, so they also walk around and will find kids to hand them to.

 

[Musicalmommy]

I never meant to cause such controversy. My boys saw the Star Wars rocks on the SW website and wanted to do them as a craft project one day. My five year old while making them asked if he make them for the Star Wars guys at Disney. He wants to give his heros something he made. They are the size of a quarter. And I didn't see it much different than a kid who wants to draw a picture to give to Mickey.

Yes my family has manners. We always say Thank You to everyone for everything. We were not planning to give Rocks to waiters as a tip or anything. I could care less if they toss them once my boys are not looking. They are worth nothing, so they do not have to report them, but on the off chance some worker who is having a hard day has a love language that is gifts. Getting a rock from a cute kid might just make their day, maybe not, but maybe.

It is not about spending, money on cast members or giving them gifts. Its about a young boy who had an idea to give to others. It doesn't matter if its a rock. It is the thought that counts.

Maybe I got caught up in the fish extender excitement over on the cruise boards where people make things or buy gifts for other people they have not met, gifts they many times make themselves, then deliver in pockets that hang by their stateroom doors. Kind os secret Santa style. That is organized and pre planned, but is still seen as an act of kindness by those who participate.

Sure random things may pop up, opportunities to act kindly towards others without planning, truly random, and we will take advantage of those moments too. But I thought it would be fun to share things others have thought of, or circumstances they came across were they were able to act kindly towards others. I didn't count on such negative comments on something that was meant to be positive and fun. I doubt anyone will want to share any ideas out of fear of being put down. How sad. I good reminder that, this is not my home.

 

[Kaspar Houser]

I never meant to cause such controversy. My boys saw the Star Wars rocks on the SW website and wanted to do them as a craft project one day. My five year old while making them asked if he make them for the Star Wars guys at Disney. He wants to give his heros something he made. They are the size of a quarter. And I didn't see it much different than a kid who wants to draw a picture to give to Mickey.

Yes my family has manners. We always say Thank You to everyone for everything. We were not planning to give Rocks to waiters as a tip or anything. I could care less if they toss them once my boys are not looking. They are worth nothing, so they do not have to report them, but on the off chance some worker who is having a hard day has a love language that is gifts. Getting a rock from a cute kid might just make their day, maybe not, but maybe.

It is not about spending, money on cast members or giving them gifts. Its about a young boy who had an idea to give to others. It doesn't matter if its a rock. It is the thought that counts.

Maybe I got caught up in the fish extender excitement over on the cruise boards where people make things or buy gifts for other people they have not met, gifts they many times make themselves, then deliver in pockets that hang by their stateroom doors. Kind os secret Santa style. That is organized and pre planned, but is still seen as an act of kindness by those who participate.

Sure random things may pop up, opportunities to act kindly towards others without planning, truly random, and we will take advantage of those moments too. But I thought it would be fun to share things others have thought of, or circumstances they came across were they were able to act kindly towards others. I didn't count on such negative comments on something that was meant to be positive and fun. I doubt anyone will want to share any ideas out of fear of being put down. How sad. I good reminder that, this is not my home.

Giving worthless stuff to a CM is not an "act of kindness from a cute kid".
You may think you have a cute kid but do you really think a CM will lug around a rock and keep it as a treasure?